LIVERMORE FALLS – SAD 36 directors unanimously voted to give Superintendent Terry Despres a 5 percent raise beginning July 1, Vice Chairman Fred Nadeau said Friday.

Despres currently makes about $98,000.

The decision came after an executive session to discuss the superintendent’s contract Thursday night, he said.

At Despres’ request, the board did not extend his contract past 2011, the year it is set to expire.

Despres had submitted a letter to the board last month expressing concern related to the new school consolidation law and saying he will not be seeking extension to his contract, according to the Dec. 13 minutes.

Despres announced Thursday night that he put a spending freeze in place due to unknown revenue loss from the state.

The raise approved Thursday would come out of the next school year’s budget.